Lionel Wendt Art Centre

The Lionel Wendt Art Centre is a major art centre and theatre in Colombo, Sri Lanka, dedicated to the memory of Sri Lankan photographic artist Lionel Wendt.[1] It combines live theatre and art exhibition, with two exhibition galleries and a theatre with over 600 seats.[2] It is managed by a trust established by an Act of Parliament.

Lionel Wendt Art Centre
ලයනල් වෙන්ඩ්ට්
Lionel Wendt Art Centre
Lionel Wendt Art Centre
Location in greater Colombo
Address18 Guildford Crescent,
Colombo 7, Sri Lanka.
LocationColombo, Sri Lanka
Coordinates6°54′25″N 79°51′37″E
TypeTheatre
Genre(s)Music, Concerts, Theatre, Dance
CapacityOver 600
Opened12 December 1953 (1953-12-12)
Website
lionelwendt.org

History

Early art exhibitions were held at Wendt's home, with the second and third taking place after Lionel Wendt's death in 1944.[3] After his death, his brother Harry decided to open a centre in his brother's memory, but he died just a year after his brother.[4] The construction of the centre was finished by their mutual friend, Harold Peiris, for whom one of the Centre's second galleries is named.

The theatre portion of the centre opened on 12 December 1953, with the production of Maxim Gorky's "The Lower Depths", starring Iranganie Serasinghe and produced by E. F. C. Ludowyk.[5] Performances in subsequent years included Ediriweera Sarachchandra's "Maname" (1956) and Chitrasena's "Karadiya" (1961).[4]

Board of trustees
Original
  • Harold Peiris (sole life-trustee)
  • Stanley de Saram
  • Trevor de Saram
  • James Naidoo
  • Dr. Paul E. Pieris
  • B. G. Thornley
  • L. C. van Geyzel

See also

References
  1. 50th Anniversary of the Lionel Wendt Theatre
  2. "Dedication to Lionel Wendt". lionelwendt.org. Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 7 November 2010.
  3. "His own canvas of life". sundaytimes.lk. 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2008.
  4. "This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Lionel Wendt Theatre". sundayobserver. 2003. Archived from the original on 19 August 2003. Retrieved 20 July 2003.
  5. "Iranganie : Expression of an ethos". sundayobserver. 2003. Archived from the original on 25 March 2004. Retrieved 30 November 2003.
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